Home Depot has recently issued a recall of a very popular chainsaw by Milwaukee Tool and sold in several of the company’s stores. The reason why this happened was because the chainsaw had safety issues that can cause serious injuries. In total, 100,000 chainsaws are being recalled in the country and 7,500 in Canada. So, let’s find out more about the Home Depot recall.
The affected model
The recalled chainsaw is the M18 FUEL Top Handle Chainsaw, and it is sold with either a 12-inch or 14-inch bar. Some people bought the chainsaw by itself as a single tool, while others bought it as part of a kit that included batteries and a charger. The catalog number for this chainsaw is 2826-20.
What’s more, to know if the chainsaw has an issue, you must look at the serial number. If the fourth character in the serial number is the letter “A”, then the chainsaw is part of the recall. The letter “A” shows that the chainsaw comes from the group that has the faulty brake.
Where was it sold and how much was it?
These chainsaws were sold between March of 2023 and September of last year. They could be found at Home Depot and also in other home improvement stores and tool distributors.
About the price, it depended on how it was sold:
- The bare tool (just the chainsaw without battery or charger) cost around $350.
- The kit with battery and charger cost around $790.
Safety issue
The problem is with the chain brake of the chainsaw. The chain brake is a very important safety feature because it is supposed to stop the chain when the user lets go of the trigger or when something sudden happens.
However, in this chainsaw model, the brake may fail. This means that the chain may keep spinning even when the user stops pressing the trigger.
This is dangerous because the chain of a chainsaw is very sharp and it moves very fast. So, if it keeps moving when it shouldn’t, it could cause deep cuts, serious wounds or even the loss of fingers or parts of the body.
Accidents reported to Milwaukee Tool
Until now, Milwaukee Tool has received 2 reports about the break malfunction. In one of these cases, the person had cut a finger. Even though only one injury has officially been reported, authorities said the risk is very serious and that more serious accidents can happen if people keep using the chainsaw without fixing it.
What owners should do
For those who have this chainsaw, they should stop using it immediately and not fix it at home. That’s why Milwaukee Tool is offering to fix it for free. The company will send the user a prepaid shipping label, so the chainsaw can be sent in at no cost. After that, the company will repair the brake and send the chainsaw back.
How to contact Milwaukee Tool?
People can contact the company to check if their chainsaw is part of the recall and follow the steps to send it to be fixed. You can contact the company in two different ways:
- Phone: 1-800-729-3878
- Website: milwaukeetool.com/recall
Why the recall is important
This chainsaw model is designed mainly for work where the tool is used close to the body, such as trimming branches or cutting parts of a tree. When a strong, fast, and sharp tool like this is used near the body, any safety failure becomes very dangerous.
That’s why authorities and the company want to make sure that people stop using the chainsaw and get it repaired before a more serious injury happens.